//Other than a few cat calls, and a couple of jeers, the large rather Bohemian crowd was nonplus with the whole thing and did nothing.//

Well Newtown's clearly changed a lot... 15 years ago, those pricks would have got belted.

Well, Toni, maybe the vote is 15 years too late. I'm not sure who the real pricks are in this world. If you front up in the middle of Pyongyang with a "I Hate Kim Jong-un' placard, exercising your democratic right, you might find the locals think you are the prick, and act accordingly. Should you do the same thing in the middle of Washington, it might be a different john dory. What do yo think?

"which in my view precludes him from being seen as an independent, just as a Right person could not be considered independent."

Strange view ttbn, independent only mean you are independent of a political party, have no affiliation. It does not mean your politics are central. could be a very conservative independent. I've seen the lot.
Some, would like to head their own political party, but they have a problem drumming up the 500 supporters needed.